Derelict boat found and removed from Muriel Ponsler Memorial Wayside beach north of Florence
Report from Oregon Parks and Recreation

Florence OR – A 24′ non-motorized boat was removed from the beach near Muriel Ponsler Wayside north of Florence at 7 pm Thursday. Leisure Excavating from Florence transported it to a local landfill.

No pollution or other hazardous materials were detected, but there was marine life clinging to the debris. According to ODFW biologist Steve Rumrill, gooseneck barnacles, mussels, seaweeds and other marine organisms were attached to the hull. Some of these marine organisms are suspected to be non-native species. Samples were sent to the Oregon State University for identification.

The boat was first spotted the boat Thursday morning by a volunteer with a marine debris monitoring team organized by the Surfrider Foundation. There is Japanese writing on the vessel, but its exact origin and date it was lost haven’t been determined.